June 19, 2019

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 72°F and cloudy with light breezes at 1:00 PM on June 19, 2019.
• Least and Peck's skippers had returned.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• There was still one lilac blooming by Gifford House.
• At the back of the parking lot, Canada thistle was just starting.
• Across the path, a dark spot stood out on a bright leaf.
• It was a red admiral, a well worn one, at that.
• Closer to the path, common milkweed was just about ready to open its flower buds.
• Nearby, a jewelbox spider had a beetle in its web.
• A dark triangle was at the edge of a rain puddle along the Carriage House drive.
• It was an eastern comma taking up minerals.
• Behind the Carriage House, motherwort was starting to flower.
• Its flowers would be special if they were an inch or so long.
• Along the Scots Pine Allée, Gyspy moth caterpillars were reaching maturity.
• Many would not progress further having succumbed to disease. The slump gives them away as the legs let go.
• In the Little Bluestem Meadow, spreading dogbane, usually chest high, was starting to bloom at one foot as a result of an earlier mowing.
• On the path through the Old Gravel Pit, elderberry was starting to bloom.
• The blossoms were interesting even before opening.
• Invasive honeysuckle berries were ripening.
• Little, native partridgeberry was blooming underfoot in shady wooded areas.
• Out in the open, above the Fern Glen, a spider was dazzling in shimmery metallic colors.
• Daisy fleabane was blooming in the sunnier areas.
• In the deep shade, little white-striped blacks could be spotted; their caterpillars eat impatiens... e.g. the abundant jewelweed.
• The lighting has to be just right to see that the common spring moth has metallic sparkles on the edges of the wings. This wasn't the right light...
• Along the roadside, a female spangled skimmer was catching some of the rare afternoon sun.
• On the dry hillside, Venus's looking-glass had started blooming.
• Right on the road, male and female common whitetails were posing as if for a field guide.
• Alien Valeriana alliariaefolia is a hold over from earlier times.
• Wood nettle is an unassuming native plant that can make its presence known.
• Arrow arrum has a strange, Jack-in-the-pulpit sort of flower..
• That and swamp candles were getting ready to bloom back off the boardwalk in the fen.
• Farther off the side, poison sumac was just opening.
• Along the edge of the fen, red baneberry was getting red.
• Tall, slender panacled hawkweed is a hawkweed native to our area.
• Bowman's root only flowered for about a week.
• The least skipper was back and should be with us the rest of the season.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek side of the trail system.